bkoganbing
The acting levels are not high and the film looks like it was shot on a hamstring in Miami locations. Still Only The Strong has a good bit of entertainment going with it. Martial Arts film fans should be happy with it.Geoffrey Lewis quite unofficially brings in former Special Forces captain Mark Dascascos for a karate program for some of his biggest challenges at an urban Miami high school he teaches at. Among those kids is Richard Coca, cousin of the neighborhood gang leader Paco Christian Prieto.Though film isn't exactly Citizen Kane, Prieto is such a menacing presence you will remember him long after the rest of the film. Especially next to white bread hero Mark Dascascos. Prieto doesn't like anyone telling the kids there's an alternative other than gang war for them. Especially when it involves Coca. Then it becomes downright personal.Martial Arts film fans will love Only The Strong and others will be entertained.
Jakethemuss
I'm going to be frank, this is no Oscar winner by a long shot, but it serves well as a martial arts themed flick and I found it enjoyable.The easy to follow plot revolves Green Beret soldier and cappoiera expert Lois Stevens, who has returned from a stint in Brazil to his old high school in Miami, which is in a sad state as drugs, crime and chronic underachievement are rife.After Lois schools 3 menacing drug dealers in front of the whole school, he suggests teaching his martial arts discipline to 12 particularly bad students to see if this can focus them and broaden their horizons. He starts training them in the ways, and eventually they start to listen..and more importantly LEARN. The only obstacle is Silverio, the vicious leader of a notoriously tough city gang, who happens to have a cousin in Stevens' training group. But of course Lois isn't going to let some miscreant stand in his way.This film, despite its cheese factor, has a positive 'can do' tone throughout, and is enjoyable for this reason. Also enjoyable for its fight scenes, which sees a dedicated and determined Lois take on hordes of opponents with his amazing skills.
Libretio
ONLY THE STRONG Aspect ratio: 1.85:1Sound format: Dolby Stereo SRA former Green Beret (Mark Dacascos) is employed by his local high school to rehabilitate some of its worst students by teaching them the art of capoeira (a form of martial arts from Brazil, using dance-like moves). But his work brings him into conflict with a local drug lord (Paco Christian Prieto), whose operations are threatened by Dacascos' interference...Predictable B-movie, elevated above the routine by virtue of its slick presentation and interesting cast (including Geoffrey Lewis), under the assured direction of Sheldon Lettich (DOUBLE IMPACT). The capoeira sequences are exotic and colorful, which blunts the impact of some pretty heavy fight scenes, and the script is alternately naive and obvious. However, the virtues are considerable: Ultra-buff Dacascos flaunts his pumped-up torso through a variety of tight-fitting vests (drool! slobber!), while ultra-cute Stacey Travis (the romantic interest) hovers around the periphery just long enough to temper the film's relentless macho swagger. Good, catchy music score, too.
whoTheFuqRyou
This movie was my introduction to Capoeira. The scenes where the capoeristas are in the mandinga facing off were really fun to watch. It's a good way to kill a Saturday afternoon, this was a fun onenot too bad
AD
